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His expression relaxes. He really is good-looking, with sharp features and perfectly coiffed hair. "Good news. I don't feel like breaking up a fight today."
"No fights. I—" I almost promise, but I'm not at all sure RJ will be happy to see me. So, I swerve. "I really like your style. Everyone in this town seems to prefer dressing like they're ready for an evening on the couch."
"Thanks." He tips an imaginary hat to me. "I like your style too."
I hurry back to my spot just in time to see RJ knocking snow off his boots against the stoop. I sprint back to the counter as well as I can in heels on linoleum. "Show time," I say to Finch.
"What'll you have today, Miss…"
"Cherry." Behind me, the bell over the door rings as RJ pushes it open. It takes every bit of willpower I've developed over the years of sticking to the diets my mother forced me on to avoid looking back at him. "I'll have a hot chocolate. The biggest you have. With lots of little marshmallows. And that chocolate chip muffin." I point to the one I want. The biggest one in the case. My mother's diets never took with me. I've never had a hang-up about my body. My body is just the blank canvas I dress up with clothes and make-up.
"Still have the palate of a child, I see," RJ says behind me, his voice soft and silky and familiar.
I spin to face him. "Oh, my goodness. RJ. What are you doing here?"
His smile is only slightly forced. "The better question is what are you doing here? Why are you still in town?"
"I've got a job." Raising my chin, I give him my most serious and professional expression. "I'm doing a re-branding of Xavier's candy shop."
RJ's brows rise in surprise and, dare I say it? He actually looks impressed. "God knows someone needs to, but do you have any experience in that field?"
"I have my associate's degree in business marketing and psychology. Plus, I have amazing taste."
He chuckles and steps up to the counter. "Xavier's business needs more than a woman who knows how to shop and took a few classes at community college."
Finch gives me a pitying look as he takes RJ's order, but I'm not daunted. RJ's probably still mad about the other night and, when he and I dated, I was silly and immature and overly concerned with material things. At least, that's how he saw me. And I let him, because I thought that's the kind of woman he wanted. Now, I know better, and I'm going to prove to him I'm so much more than that. The perfect woman to be his wife.
Finch gets to work on our orders and I stand with RJ while we wait. "Alice seems really sweet. I'm happy for you, RJ." But I will definitely be here to scoop him up when they break up.
"She is. And I go by James now. If you're going to be sticking around town, you should call me James."
"Why the change?"
"RJ is a kid's name. James is much more professional. RJ made a lot of bad choices, but James has his head on straight."
The pointed look he gives me when he says, 'bad choices' makes it clear he thinks I'm one of them. "I like it," I lie. "It suits you."
I step away from him and to the left, positioning myself under the mistletoe.
He glances down at my outfit and his upper lip curls. "You know, this isn't Vegas. That outfit is slutty as hell. If you want to be professional and be taken seriously, dress like it."
"Order for Cherry." Finch sets my hot chocolate on the counter with the muffin next to it on a small plate.
"Yay." I clap. "That looks delicious." That's when I realize the marshmallows are colored in pastel rainbow colors. "These marshmallows are the cutest. RJ, look at these adorable marshmallows."
"It's James." He grabs his coffee before Finch says his name. "You want Xavier to take you seriously, try acting like an adult. He can't stand women who act like children and neither can I."
I watch him walk out of the coffee shop and slowly deflate. What has happened to my RJ? Why does he suddenly hate everything about me?
"That guy's a dick." Finch leans with his elbows on the counter.
"He's just mad because I tried to break him up from his girlfriend. He doesn't really mean what he said." But doubt gnaws at me. Do I need to change everything about myself to win RJ back? Would it be worth it?
"Alice Shaw?" Finch asks. "You do that and you'll be a town hero. No one thinks that smarmy asshole is right for her."
Finch's expression has morphed from friendly to downright murderous. Ah, maybe he's the guy to seduce Alice away from James. "Especially you?"
His expression relaxes. "Me? Nah, I don't care who Alice dates."
